A 16-year-old Malmesbury teenager has been arrested after South African police, working with international law enforcement agencies, allegedly uncovered child sexual abuse material on electronic devices linked to him.

The teenager was arrested on Monday following an intelligence-driven operation by the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) National Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) Team.

The operation followed intelligence received from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Embassy and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

According to SAPS, the intelligence pointed investigators towards a suspect believed to be in South Africa and allegedly linked to online networks known as “764”.

The networks have been described by law enforcement as violent international online extremist networks associated with child exploitation.

SAPS said members of these networks allegedly target, blackmail and coerce minors into participating in online sexual abuse and other criminal activities.

The alleged activities include the torture and killing of animals, as well as other forms of harmful conduct.

Following an extensive investigation, the National SECI Team traced the teenager to an address in Malmesbury, where he was arrested.

SAPS said the teenager was allegedly found in the act at the time of his arrest.

A preliminary analysis of his electronic devices conducted at the scene allegedly uncovered explicit images and videos depicting child sexual abuse and animal mutilation.

The devices have been seized and will undergo a comprehensive forensic examination as investigators work to establish the full extent of the alleged offences and determine whether other individuals were involved.

SAPS said a number of child victims had been identified during the investigation.

The operation involved several SAPS units, including the Head Office Occult Unit, the Paarl Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, Paarl K9 Unit and the Western Cape Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

US law enforcement officials, including agents from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), also supported the operation.

The investigation comes amid growing international concern over online networks that allegedly exploit vulnerable children and use threats, coercion and manipulation to force victims into producing or participating in abusive material.

Police said investigators were also probing the possibility of additional offences relating to fraud and money laundering.

The teenager is expected to appear in the Malmesbury Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the arrest followed close cooperation between South African and international law enforcement agencies.

The police said the investigation remains ongoing and that further charges could follow as forensic examinations of the seized electronic devices continue.

Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the alleged victims or further details about the teenager, who is a minor.

The case is expected to shed further light on the alleged activities of international online networks operating across borders and the role of South African-based suspects in such networks.